Camera



4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 30, 1943. V. L. HWARD CAMERA Filed Aug. 22, 1939 R. w. m@ W L@ m a m lvf n. S www @1 ,.L by Nw [uw wm. l@ w ,wm mwN mw @u v m M. 1. RW fw WWW l! .VHNH QmN A. l Y DU ,mwN 3N T umN N. a? M5 H MSM SMNNN miv Nov. 30, 1943. v- L. HoWARn CAMERA Filed Aug. 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @ym/ /Yaf/fw A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 30,1943. v L HOWARD 2,335,759

CAMERA i Filed Aug. 22. 1959 4 Sl'leeLs-Shee4 3 "md l 1 I I l nl www M a o @@g i u W'" llllwl @1w Gr INVENTOR. A' P/m/Y Hall/Q20,

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 30, 1943.

v. 1 HOWARD CAMERA Filed Aug. 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N. kk.

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. ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov; 30, 1943 LJNVI'ED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE l CAMERA Vernon L. Howard, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application August 22, 1939. Serial No, 291,346

10 Claims.

My invention is primarily concerned with the f production of a camera for use in exposing photo ying steps inthe reproduction process.

vAmong the. objects of my invention are to produce a camera in which a set of color separation plates can be quickly and simply exposed; to insure that the respective exposure positions of the several-plates inthe set will be the same in respect to the'focal plane of the camera in order to obtain the necessary registry of the several lm- Ipressions inthe printing process; to produce a.

camera in'which theznumber of plates exposed in each'set'may be varied; to embody in the camera means by which each plate will bear indicia identifying the color of light to which it has been exposed; to provide a camera of the type referred to with a removable magazine capable of being removed from thexcamera after any desired number ofexposures have been made; and to move the plates vsuccessively into and out of exposure position with a minimum of vibration.

In carrying out my objects, I provide the camera with a removable magazine having two compartments, one for unexposed plates and the other for exposed plates, and I arrange in the camera means for successively moving the plates from the first compartment to the second. Each plate is carried in a plate holder open on one face to expose the emulsion side of the plate; and

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invcntion: Fig. l is a vertical axial section through a. camera embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is ar front elevation of the camera with the cover plate for the filter-moving mechanism' removed; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the camera, in partial section, with the plate magazine removed; Fig. 4 is ragmental side elevation illust-rating the driving motor and certain detalls of the plate-moving mechanism; Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental sections similar to Fig. 1 but on an enlarged scale; Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the plate magazine; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 0f Fig. 7: Fig. 9 is a fragmental section illustrating details of the lock by which the cover of each magazine compartment is held in place; Fig. l() is a fragmental section similar to Fig. l illustrating a preferred form of groundglass support in position on the camera; and Fig. ll is a plan view of a portion of the means employed for moving the filter-carrier.

The camera shown in the drawings includes a base I5 which, in practice, is mounted on a suitable support toprovide for its vertical and angular adjustment. As such supports are common in studio cameras and as my invention is in no way concerned with details of the support, I have eliminated from the drawings any showing of means supporting the base I5.

The base I5 is provided with longitudinally extending guide ways upon which are slidably mounted a rear carriage I6 and a front carriage I l, the former being movable along its associated guide ways by rotation of a manually operable the camera includes a support which engages the occurs at each plate-shifting operation. Within r the camera I mount immediately. in front of each .plate in exposure position and desirably along one cdgc of such plate a series of small color illters 'respectively corresponding in color to the iilters in the aforesaid carrier.

adjusting screw I8 and the latter by operation of a second manually operable adjusting screw I9. As will be apparent from the more detailed description to follow, the rear carriage I6 supports the plate magazine and plate-moving mechanism. While the front carriage Il supports the lens, shutter, and filter carrier.

The carriage Il is provided with two laterally spaced upwardly extending arms 25 between which there is supported. a housing 26. If desired, the housing 26 may be mounted in the arms 25 to swing about a horizontal transverse axis in order to vary the angle between the lenssaxis and a plate to be exposed. If the housing 26 is pivotally mounted as indicated in the drawings, means such as the clamp screw 21 is provided for holding it in fixed angular position. Within the housing 26. I mount a sleeve 28 the cross-sectional dimensions of which correspond to the dimensions of the plates to be exposed Vinthe cam- During exposure, cach plate is supported upon the rear end of this sleeve in fixed position relative to the carriage I6.

The front carriage l1 supports a housing 30 for the lens and filters, such housing having a removable front cover 3| which may, if desired, carry a light-shield 32. Inside the housing 3l) I mount a camera lens 36', a shutter, and a shutter-operating 'mechanism the latter including an operating lever 33. The rear housing 26 and the lens-housing 30 are interconnected by a lightproof, extensible bellows 34.

The rear end of the rear housing 26 is open and is adapted for the reception of the plate magazine. The plate magazine consists of a boxlike structure 36 provided intermediate its height with a pair of horizontally spaced partitions 31 and 38, the former defining the bottom of a compartment 39 for exposed plates and the latter defining the top of a compartment 40 for unexposed plates. Desirably, the magazine 36 and the housing 26 are provided with vintertting light-tight provisions for locating the magazine in definite position on the housing. As shown, the front face of the magazine 36 is provided with a forwardly projecting peripheral flange received in a rabbet groove extending around the edges of the open rear face of the housing 26. In addition, the magazine 36 may be provided along its bottom edge with a downwardly projecting ange 42 which is received in a correspondingly shaped groove on the housing 26. A releasable latch 43 at the top of the housing and magazine serves to hold the latter in position.

The inner or forward end of the compartment 39 is closed by an end plate 45 which extends downwardly from the top wall of the magazine and terminates short of the upper partition 31. The rear end of the compartment 39 is closed by a removable cover plate 46 held in place by releasable latch mechanism (see Fig. 9) including a rotatable handle 41 operatively connected to latch members 48 engageable in suitably located recesses 49 in the side walls of the magazine 36. A similar cover plate 49 closes the rear end of the compartment 40. The side walls of the plate magazine 36 are slotted, as indicated at 50 for the reception of an opaque mask 52 which covers the inner end of the lower plate compartment 40 completely and which extends upwardly into overlapping relation with the end wall 45 of the upper compartment. The bottom wall of the magazine 36, in the plane of the slots 50, may be provided with a groove 53 the side walls of which lend additional support to the mask 52 when it is in position.

Each of the plates 55 to be exposed in my camera is rst positioned in anindividual plateholder 56 (see Figs. 5 and 8). Each of such plate holders is desirably formed of sheet-metal and is provided along its bottom and vertical edges with a rim 51 grooved on its inner faces for the reception of the plate 55, which may be slid into place through the open upper end of the plate holder, as will be apparent from Fig. 5, with its emulsion side outward.

In charging the magazine, the mask 52 is put in place and the cover 49 removed. One or more sets of plates, each in its individual plate holder,

are then placed in superposed relation within the compartment 40, being located therein by the vertical side Walls of the magazine, by the partition 38 and by another partition 60 defining the partment 49 from engaging the mask 52, and to this end I mount respectively above the partition 38 and below the partition 6U transversely extending shafts 6| and 62 each of which carries a pair of fingers 63 adapted to engage the innermost plate-holder 56 at the sides of the plate therein. Between the partitions 31 and 38 I dispose a shaft 64 carrying a pinion-65 which meshes with a pinion 66 on the shaft 6| and also with a rack 61 which, in turn,v meshes with a pinion 53 on the shaft 62. The rack 61 may be held in engagement with the pinions and 68 by means of rollers 69 which, together with the rack and the pinions 65, 66, and 68, are disposed at one side of the magazine 36 and enclosed in a suitable housing 10, as indicated in Fig. 8.

At one end, the shaft 64 carries an operating knob 1| by means of which the fingers 63 can be moved between the full-line and dotted-line positions shown in Fig. 5. When in the dotted-line position shown, the fingers engage the innermost plate-carrier 55 and hold it in rearwardly spacedv relation to the slots 50 in which the mask 52 is received; while, when in the full-line position, the fingers 63 lie beyond the limits of the plateholders and do not interfere with movement thereof. Desirably, the operating knob 1| has a flat side whichwhen the fingers 63 are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in'Fig. 1, is disposed adjacent a reinforcement 52 on the mask 52, the relationship of the knob and mask-reinforcement being such that when the mask is in position the knob 1| can not be rotated to move the finger 63 to retracted position and such that the mask can not be inserted until the knob has been so positioned that the fingers 63 will engage the innermost plate-holder` 55 and move it away from the maskreceiving slots 50.

The cover 49 for the rear plate-compartment 40 carries means which acts on the plates in such compartment and tends to force ythem forwardly. 'I'his means conveniently takes the form of a pair of U-shaped yokes 15 pivotally/mo'unted on opposite sides of the cover 49, disposed in crossed relation, and provided with rollers 16 engaging the back of the rearmost plate-holder 55. Springs 11 or other suitable yielding means tend to swing be in place, the fingers 63 of the plate-retracting mechanism will be in theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Figs. 1 and 7.

The pressure exerted on theplates in the compartment 40 by the rollers 16 will tend to swing the fingers 63 toward retracted position, but such movement of the fingers will be prevented by engagement of the flat side of the knob 1| with the mask-reinforcement 52.

When the magazine is put in place on the housing 26, the knob 1| is rotated slightly to release it from engagement with the mask-reinforcement 52', the mask is then withdrawn, and the knob permitted to rotate until the fingers 63 are retracted, whereupon the spring-pressed roll-I ers 16 will force the plate holders forwardly until the plate 55 in the innermost plate holder is seated on the rear end of the sleeve 28 as shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the innermost plate holder lies inwardly beyond the partition 6U, which previously supported it, and I therefore provide the magazine 36 with a series of upwardfy projecting legs 89 the upper surfaces of which are co-planar with the upper surface of the parplate-compartment 38 has mounted upon it a yoke 82 similar to the yokes 18 previously described and bearing upon its free end a roller 83 engaging the back of the outermost plate-holder in the compartment 39. For a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, the yoke 82 is pivoted to the cover 48 on a horizontal axis located near the lower edge of suchcover, and the roller 83 traverses a path nearer the top than the bottom of the compartment 38.

The means shown in the drawings for moving each plate from exposure position on the rear end of the sleeve 28 into the upper plate compartment 38 of the magazine comprises a pair of endless chains 88 which are mounted within the housing 28 on opposite sides of the sleeve 28. Each of these chains extends between an upper sprocket 88 and a lower sprocket 81, the upper sprockets being rigidly mounted on a horizontal shaft 88 which extends across the housing 28 above the sleeve 28. The lower sprockets 81 may be idler sprockets mounted on individual stub-shafts extending inwardly from the side wall of the housf ing 28 below the sleeve 28.

Each chain 88 carries a pair of equally spaced lugs 88 arranged to engage the lower edge of a plate holder in exposed position at the rear end oi' the sleeve 28. Each of the lugs 80 is shaped as indicated in Fig. 5, being formed at its rear with an outwardly extending finger 9|'and atits front with an inwardly and forwardly extending cam surface I2.

Between successive plate-changing operations of the plate-shifting mechanism, the lugs 90 on each chain occupy respective positions near the top and bottom of the chain. When the shaft 88 is rotated, however, the lower lug 90 moves rearwardly and upwardly around the periphery of the sprocket 81, the inclined cam surface 92 engages the lower edge of the plate holder 55 which is in exposure position, and moves the lower edge of such plate holder rearwardly until the rim 51 thereon clears the rear end of the sleeve 28. Im-

y mediately thereafter, the finger 9| engages the lower edge of the plate holder and moves it upwardly to carry it out of exposure position and into the exposed plate-compartment 39 of the magazine.

In order to prevent the emulsion side of the plate from scraping over the upper portion of the sleeve 28 as the plate is raised. I mount within the housing 28 a pair of guides 98 which are positioned to engage the rim 51 of the plate holder at the sides of the plate 88 and the rear faces of which slope rearwardly and upwardly. The guides Il are disposed, as is clear from Fig. 5, to engage the plate-holder rim 81 immediately after upward movement of the plate holder has begun; and the inclination of the rear faces ofvr the guides carries the upper'edge of the plate holder rearwardly and moves the plate clear of the rear end of the sleeve 28. The upper ends of the plate-holder rim I1 may be beveled, as indicated at 81', to facilitate their engagement with the guides 98.

The plate holders successively moved upwardly from exposure position at the rear end of the sleeve 28 enter the upper magazine compartment 33 through the gap between the partition 31 and the inner end wall of such compartment. The inner surface of the end wall 45 is shaped as indicated in Fig. 6--i. e., its lower portion 91 slopes downwardly and forwardly and its upper portion 98 slopes upwardly and forwardly, the lower portion, when the magazine is in position on the housing 28, being substantially co-planar with the rear faces of the guides 95.

As the first plate holder is moved upwardly by the upwardly moving fingers 9| on the lugs 90, its

leading edge passes across the portion 91 of the'.

end wall of the compartment 39 and beyond such portion until the plate vholder engages the roller 33 on the yoke 82 and forces such yoke rearwardly as indicated by the full-line showing in Fig. 6. Thereafter, the roller 83 exerts a forwardly directed force on the upper portion of the plate holder and tends to swing it into contact with the wall-portion 98; but such swinging movement of the plate holder, which would carry its lower edge out of engagement with the finger 9|, is prevented until after the plate holder has cleared the partitions 31 and 38. For the purpose ofreducing friction, one of such partitions, here shown as the partition 38, may be provided with one or more rollers 99 which are yieldingly urged forwardly, to engage the upwardly moving plate holder. As soon as the plate holder clears the upper partition 31, it is free to swing into contact with the wall portion 98 under the influence of the pressure exerted upon it by the roller 83. As a result of this swinging movement, the lower portion of the plate holder is separated from the lower wall-portion 91 to provide a space into which the next plate receivedin the compartment 38 may enter. The position of the first plateholder upon completion of its movement into the compartment 39 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

I may, in certain instances, find it desirable to provide means for positively insuring that the plate holders in the magazine compartment 39 will be moved into positions which will not interfere with the entry of the next plate holder. Such a means is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and comprises a pair of swinging members |0| which are pivotally mounted adjacent the inner surfaces of the side walls of the magazine compartment 39 near the lower edge of the wall 45. The two swinging members are interconnected by a rod |02 to which is attached a plate |03 which extends upwardly along the forward side of the wall 45 and has its upper end secured to a vertically sliding member |04. The upper end of the slidl ing member |04 is bent to extend over the upper edge of the wall 45 and inwardly of the compartment 39, as indicated at |05, immediately above the free end of a leaf spring |06 which, when unstressed, is approximately flush with the inner surface of the upper wall of the magazine 36, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Should any plate holder deposited in the magazine compartment 39 not be moved into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 by the action of the roller 83 but instead occupy a position such that its lower edge was in the path of the next plate holder entering the compartment, such entering plate holder would strike the lower edge ofthe first plate holder and move it upwardly. Upward movement of the first plate holder would displace upwardly the spring |08, the sliding member |04, and the plate |03, and would thereby cause the members |0| to swing about their axis of pivotal mounting and to force the lower edge of the first plate holder rearwai-diy to make room for the plate holder entering the compartment. A spring |01, acting between the slidable member |04 and a stationary abutment, may be employed to restore the swing-- ing members to a position out of the path of movement of plate-holders entering the magazine compartment'. 39 as soon as upward pressure on the leaf spring |06 is relieved. A plate |08 secured in spaced relation to the wall 45 covers and protects the mechanism just described.

Desirably, the plate-moving mechanism above described is power-driven. To this end, I may mount on the outer side of one of the legs 25 an electric motor I|0 connected through speed-reducing gearing |I|| I I2 to a shaft II3. If, asis the case in the drawings, the housing 26 is tiltable relatively to the legs 25. the shaft ||3 is disposed co-axially with the trunnions by which the housing 26 is supported, the shaft |I3 extending through the adjacent trunnion and being connected, as through the chain drive I I 4l illustrated, to the shaft 88 of the plate-moving mechanism within the housing 26. The chains 85 are made of such length that adjustment of the housing 26 about its axis of pivotal mounting in the legs 25 will not bring the lugs 90 into engagement with a plate holder at the rear end of the sleeve such that a plate-shifting operation, when onceinstituted, will be carried to completion. In carrying out this purpose, I may make the chain drive I |4 of such a speed-ratio that one complete rotation of the shaft I I3 will eiect a complete plate-changing operation of the chains 85; and on the shaft I I3 I 'mount a cam ||6 which cooperates with a pair of contacts and II8 connected in the circuit of the electric motor IIO. As shown in Fig. 4. the Contact has an eX- tension the end of which is receivable in a. notch in the periphery of the cam IIB. Normally, the contacts III and II8 are open, the extension of the former occupying the notch in the cam IIB. If, in these circumstances, current is supplied to the motor ||0, as by a momentary closing of a switch |20 bridging the contacts and II8, the motor will drive the shaft II3. As this shaft |I3 begins to rotate, the notch in the cam IIB moves out of association With the contact II'I to force the latter into engagement with the contact II8 and to maintain the motor circuit closed until a complete revolution of the shaft ||3 has again brought the notch in the cam ||6 into association with the contact II'I to permit the latter to move out of engagement with the contact I I8.

To prevent the momentum of the motor from carrying the plate-shifting mechanism beyond the point at which the end of the contact ||1 is disposed in the notch of the cam IIS, I may employ the automatic brake means illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown, this brake comprises a pair of co-operating members in the form of disks I2| and'l22. The disk |2| is mounted on one end of the shaft of the motor 0, while the disk |22 is rigidly mounted in opposed relation on a swinging lever |23 which is .urged by a spring |24 in a direction tendng to cause engagement of the two brake-disks. The free end of the lever |23 co-operates with a notched disk |25 on the Y assumer' tacts and II8 aremaintained closed Io'yv the disk I|6. the' disk |25' holdsthe lever' |23 against." the action` off-the spring |24' s'uoha position that the bra'kedis'ks I2| and |22 are outf'ofContactwith each other; but, when 'the end ofthe contact enters the notchin the disk'I ||i td open the motor circuit, the notch in ythe disk` |25 comes into alinement with' the free end of the lever |23 and permits the `spring |24 tomove such lever and to cause engagement'of th'efbr'ake |2|-|22 to bring the motor toa stopff The lterofthe'camera shown inthe drawings are mounted at equal angular' intervals in rotatable disk |30 supported within'the housing '30 on the carriage l spaced from thecamera lens insu'cha position' that the lters on the carrier maybe"successively brought into alinement with the vcamera lens. y

The number of filters may'vaiy, depending 'upon the number of color separation plates ineach,

set. In producing plates foi` aft'hree-color proc-j cess, there will be three plates 55 in each set'and,`

ordinarily, three filters (red, green, and blue) in the lter carrier |30. In the case of alfour-color, process, there 'will be four plates 55'in each set and, ordinarily, four filters (red, green, blue, and color-corrective) vin the filter carrier. In producing photographic plates for either thethree-color of four-color printing process',hovveveigitl may be desirable lto prepare an additional full-'color lpho-l tographic plate. In that eventsuoh a plate would' be included in eachA set of Dlates'and the lfiltercarrier |30'would have an vextra opening `which might be lterless or which might vhave mounted within it a lter adapted to correct for the character of the lightto whichthe subject is. ex-'f posed.

Desirably, means is provided for'aixto'matically changing the position of the lter carrier at Teach* operation of the plate-shifting mechanism'if To this end, I mount in the base |52. longitudinally extending shaft 35 of non-circular"cross-section' which is driven from the motor |I0 and which' in turn, rotates the lter carrier'l30. As shown in the drawings, the ymeans for' driving the shaft |35 takes the form of an inclined shaft|36 whichl is driven from the motor ||0 and'which, in tu`1'n.`

drives a gear |31. The gear |31 is rotatable with the shaft |35 but is supported axially from the carriage I6 so as to'be movable therewith.v

The front carriage I I is providedwith a pair of downwardly'extending spaced abutments `|40 between which there is disposed apinion |4`I slidable on the shaft |35 butr'otatable therewith.

The pinion |4| meshes with a gear |42 which islv rotatably mountedon a stub shaft |43 projecting forwardly from the rear wall o'f the housing"3 0.

The gear |42 is rigid" with "a' pinion |45 :mesh-QA ing with a gear 46 which in 'turn meshes with lter disk |30 is removablyse'cured.'

brought into meshing engagement withany of the gears on the sleeve. The: gear' |46 is rotati ably supported from an intermediatepoint'ona lever |52 which is pivotally ands'lidably mounted i on the stub shaft |43.` A'spririg |53 acting upon the lever |52 tends to move it in a. direction to I cause engagement of the gear |46l with that gear on the .sleeve |41 with which-it isaliried. .'To

The filter carrier |530' is mounted for rotation aboutfa horizontal axis hold the lever |52 in each of its several positions of adjustment, I mount within the casing 30 a stationary plate |54 (see Fig. 1l) which has along its outer edge a series of notches spaced both axially and angularly with relation to the stub shaft |43, each of such notches being adapted to receive the upper end of the lever |52.

It will be obvious from the above description that for each plate-changing operation of the plate-shifting mechanism the shaft |35 will rotate through a fixed distance and will rotate the filter carrier |46 through a predetermined angle depending upon the gear-ratio of the operative connection between the shaft |35 and `-`the sleeve |41. This gear ratio may be varied by selectively positioning the lever |52 to bring the gear |46 into engagement with the desired one of the gears |48, |49, and |50. In Fig. 1, I have shown the gear |46 in engagement with the smaller gear |48, which would be the arrangement employed for a. filter carrier bearing three lters, and the filter carrier would be rotated through 120 at each plate-shifting operation. If the filter disk |30 carries four filters, as indicated in Fig. 2, the lever |52 will be moved to bring the idler gear |48 into mesh with the gear |49 of intermediate size, and the filter carrier will rotate through 90 at each operation of the plate-shifting mechanism. Similarly, if the filter carrier bears five filters, the lever |52 will be operated to bring the gear |40 into mesh with the largest gear |50, and the filter 'carrier will therefore rotate through 72 at each operation of the plate-shifting mecha.- nism. Desirably, I provide a remote control for the shutter-operating mechanism of the camera. For this purpose, I may disposed in the housing 30 a solenoid |60 having a movable core |8| which is connected through e. link |82 with the operating lever 33 of the shutter. The solenoid |60 (see Fig. 4) is connected to a source of current through a switch |63. Desirably, the switches |20 and |63 are push-button switches and are arranged in a single unit connected with the devices they respectively control by a threewire cable.

Within the sleeve 28 at the rear end thereof, I provide an inwardly directed flange which carries a series of filters |1| corresponding respectively in color to the filters employed in the filter carrier |30 when the camera is being used to produce a set of color separation plates for use in a four-color process. 'Ihat is, the four filters |1| will consist of a. red filter, a green filter, a blue filter, and a color-corrective filter. The filters |1| are shown as arranged in a straight line, but other -arrangements may be used if desired. When any lter |3| of fundamental color is associated with the camera lens, light will pass substantially unimpeded through the filter |1| corresponding in color to that filter |3|; a portion of the light passed by the filter |3| in association with the lens will also pass through the color-corrective filter I1|; but very little light will pass through the other two filters |1|. As a result, if either the red, the green, or the blue filter |3| is in alinement with the camera lens, the image of thecorresponding colored filter |1| and the nuage of the color-corrective filter |1| will print on the plate, the former printing more deeply than the latter. If the color-corrective filter is disposed at one end of the row of filters |1|, the distance between its image and the other image printed on the plate will indicate the color of the filter which was in alinement with the camera lens when that plate was exposed. 'I'he plate exposed to light passing the color-corrective filter |8| will pass substantially unimpeded through the color-corrective filter |1|, but only portions of such light will pass through the other three filters. As a result, the plate exposed to lightl passing the color-corrective filter will display four images, three of which will be of relatively weak intensity and the other of which will be substantially deeper. From the images of the filters |1| as printed on any plate, it is therefore possible to determine quickly the color of the light to which that plate was exposed.

In order to facilitate registry of the several different colored impressions in the printing process, it is customary to provide register marks on the plates. For this purpose I mount at the rear end of the sleeve 28 a pair of horizontally slidable members |15. These members extend vertically across the rear end of the sleeve 28 and are slidably adjustable toward and away from each other, as by having their ends disposed in grooves |15 cut in the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the sleeve 28. Near its center each of the members |15 is provided with two fine intersecting slits |11 which will print in the form of a cross on each plate, and which will facilitate the operation of securing registry. The purpose of making the members |15 adjustable is to dispose the cross slits |11 as close -as possible to the sides of the image which is to be reproduced, thus making it unnecessary unduly to enlarge the printing plates in order that the registry marks may show thereon.

I find it desirable in many instances to provide means which will prevent accidental operation of the plate-changing mechanism and filter-moving mechanism at times when the magazine 38 is not in place. This means may take the form of a switch |vdisposed within the housing 28 and having an operating member |8| positioned to be engaged by some portion of the magazine, such as the plate |08, when the magazine is in place on the housing 28 and, by reason of such engagement, to maintain the switch |80 closed. The switch |80, if provided. is connected in one of the supply wires between the source of current and the switches |20 and |63, as is clear from Fig. 4.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a convenient means for supporting a ground glass at the end ,of the sleeve 21 when the subject to be photographed 1s' being arranged and the camera adjusted. This means takes the form of a cover which fits on the rear end of the housing 20 in the same manner as does the magazine 36, and which is adapted to be held in place by the latch 43. In line with 'the sleeve 28, the cover |88 has a sight opening |80, and between this sight opening and the rear end of the sleeve 28 there is disposed a ground glass |81 mounted in a frame |88 which is supported from the cover |85 on guide posts |88 and yieldingly urged forwardly of the camera as by means of compression springs |80 embracing such guide posts. By this means of supporting the ground glass |81, I insure that the mat surface thereof, which is at the front and upon which the image appears, will occupy exact- 1y the same position as the emulsion-side of each photographic plate in exposure position.

In the operation of the camera, there is mounted on the sleeve |41 a filter disk |30 bearing the proper number and kind of filters, and the lever |52 is adjusted to arrange the gearing so that the filter disk will make one full revolution for each set of plates to be exposed. The magazine is loaded by placing one or more sets of unexposed color-separation plates in the magazine-compartment 40. Prior to loading the magazine, the knob 1| is turned to put the plate-retracting fingers 63 in the positions illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Figs. 1 and '7, and the mask 52 is then inserted. When inserted, the mask 52 prevents rotation of the knob 1|, and therefore holds the nger 83 in operative position, as above set forth. When the desired number of sets of plates have been placed in the magazine compartment 40, the cover 49 is then secured in place.

The cover |85 is placed upon the housing 25,

and the camera and subject arranged to produce the desired image on the ground-glass |81 which,

as above indicated, is seated on the rear end of the sleeve 28. Upon removal of the cover |85 from the housing 26, the members may bel adjusted so as to occupy positions closely adjacent vthe sides of the image.

the` influence of the pressure exerted upon the plate holders by the rollers 15 until the rst plate is seated in exposure position on the rear end of vthe sleeve 28, as shown in Fig. 5. Thereupon, the switch 83 is closed to open the shutter and maintain it closed for the duration of the desired exposure, whereupon opening of the switch will close the shutter. The switch is .then closed momentarily to effect the supply of current to the motor I0, which begins to operate the plate'- changing and filter-moving mechanism. mediately after operation of the motor ||0 has begun, the disk |||5v closes-the contacts ||1 an |8 and maintains the motor circuit closed until the shaft ||3 has made a complete revolution to effect a plate-changing operation as above described. At the completion ofthe plate-changing operation, the first plate ls within the exposed-plate compartment 89 of theV magazine,

occupying therein the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6; and the second plate has been moved into exposure position at the rear end of the sleeve 28 as a result of the pressure exerted by the roller 16 on the-plate holders in the magazine-compartment 40. The shutter is then again opened by closing the switch |63 to expose the second plate. This sequence of operations is repeated until the full set of plates has been exposed, whereupon the filter carrier will have been restored to its original position.

If any platev in the set of plates is different from the others, as in a process involving the exposure of a full-color plate, it is obviously essential that the iilter 'carrier |30 be disposed in proper position before the first plate is exposed; as otherwise, the full-color plate would be exposed to filtered light. Such preliminary arrangement of the filter-carrier may be effected either by rotating it on the sleeve |41 or by swinging the lever |52 to disengage the gear |48 from the gearsl on the sleeve |41 and then adjust'mg the sleeve and filter carrier to' proper position, subsequently restoring the lever |52 to proper position.

While I have shown the control switches |20 and |63 as adapted for manual operation, it will be obvious that, by the provision of suitable timing mechanism, the opening and closing of the circuits respectively including the motor ||0 and the solenoid |60 might be automatically controlled during the exposure of each full set of plates. Such an automatic controLv'however, forms no part of the present invention, and therefore need not be described.

It is to be noted that each plate,as exposed, is located in Jrelation to the focal plane of the camera by direct engagement of its emulsioncoated surface with the rear end of the sleeve 28. By this means I ensure that the respective images on all the plates of each set are identically the same in size, which is necessary to secure vperfect registry in the printing process. This feature is of considerable importance; for, if a plate in exposure position was located from its rear surface or by locating means engaging the plate-holder, variations in the thickness of the plates, or variations in the plate holders, might cause the several plates in each set to be held in different positions relative to the focal plane of the camera, thus resulting in images of different sizes and making perfect registry of the printing impressions impossible.

After any or all of the sets of plates in the magazine-compartment 30 havebeen exposed,

the knob 1| may be rotated to bring the fingers plates, said magazine being removably associated with said housing, means for holding said magazine in position on the housing with the unexposed-plate compartment coaxial with said lens,

yielding means in said unexposed-plate compartment for urging the plates therein forwardly, releasable mechanism in said magazine for holding the unexposed plates retracted against `the force exerted upon them by said yielding means, a plate support mounted in the housing in position to engage the emulsion-coated surface of the forwardmost plate in the unexposed-plate compartment to support such plate in exposure position as the unexposed plates are urged forwardly by said yielding means, and means carried by said housing for successively moving plates from exposure position into the exposed-plate compartment oi' said magazine.

2. In a camera, a housing carrying a lens and shutter mechanism, a plate magazine having a compartment for a series of superposed unexposed plates and a compartment for exposed plates, said magazine being rem vably associated with said housing, means for h ding said magazine in position on the `housing with the unexposed-plate compartment coaxial with said lens, yielding means in said unexposed-plate compartment for urging the plates therein forwardly, releasable mechanism in said magazine for holding the unexposed plates retracted against the force exerted upon them by said yielding means, a plate support mounted inthe housing in position to engage the forwardmost plate in the unexposedplate compartment to support such plate in exposure position as the unexposed plates are urged forwardly by said yielding means. and means car ried by said housing for successively moving plates from exposure position into the exposedplate compartment of said magazine.

3. In a camera, a housing carrying a lens and shutter mechanism, a plate magazine having a compartment for a series of superposed unexposed plates and a compartment for exposed plates, said magazine being removably associated with said housing, means for holding said magazine in position on the housing with the unexposed-plate compartment coaxial with said lens, yielding means in said unexposed-plate compartment for urging the plates therein forwardly, a plate support mounted in the housing in position to engage the forwardmost plate in the unexposed-plate compartmentv to support such plate in exposure position as the unexposed plates are urged forwardly by said yielding means, and means carried by said housing for successively moving plates from exposure position into the exposed-plate compartment of said magazine.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 with the addition of a filter-carrier movably mounted on said housing and bearing a series of light-filters, and means operative jointly with said platemoving means for movingsaid lter-carrier to bring said light-filters successively into the camera-axis.

5. In a camera, a housing carrying a lens and shutter mechanism, a plate magazine having a compartment for a series of superposed unexposed plates, said magazine being removably associated with said housing, means for holding said magazine in position at the rear end of said housing, the forward end of said compartment being open, a mask for closing the open end of said compartment, a plate support mounted in said housing ahead of the plane of said mask, yielding means for urging said plates forwardly toward said mask and plate support, releasable mechanism for holding said plates rearwardly away from said mask, and means for preventing release of said mechanism when said mask is in place.

6. In a camera., a housing carrying a lens and dshutter mechanism, a plate magazine having a compartment for a series of superposed unexposed plates, said magazine being removably associated with said housing, means for holding said magazine in position at the rear end of 4said housing, the forward end of said compartsaid housing is pivotally adjustable, a plate support in said housing, mechanism within said housing for moving photographic plates successively into and out of association with said support, a driving motor for said plate-moving mechanism mounted on said housing-support, and power-transmission means operatively interconnecting said motor and plate-moving mechanism, said power-transmission means including a rotatable element co-axial with the pivotal mounting of said housing in its support.

8. In a camera, means for successively moving a series of photographic plates into and out of exposure position in the focal plane of the camera, means for successively moving a series of light-filters into and out of position-on the axis of the camera, and power-transmission mechanism including variable-speed gearing operatively interconnecting said two means and selectively controllable to vary the speed ratio between said two means.,`

9. In a camera, a support for holding a photographic plate in exposure position, and means for successively moving a series of photographic plates into and out of association with said support, said means comprising a pair of endless chains arranged on opposite sides of said support and provided with outwardly projecting, plateengaging lugs, each of said lugs having a ringer engageable with the rear edge of the plate and, in advance of such nger, an inwardly and forwardly sloping cam surface disposed to engage the rear edge of a plate on said support and move it perpendicularly to its plane out of contact with the support.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9 with the addition of stationary guide means positioned to carry the front edge of such plate away from the plane of said support as the plate begins to move with said chains.

VERNON L. HOWARD. 

